OCCUPIED JERUSALEM — In the latest blow to the Middle East peace process, Israel has approved plans to build another 381 settler homes in the West Bank. The move brings the total number of planned units announced since the start of the year to 2,530.

“The Israeli Civil Administration, which falls under the Defense Ministry, has published plans for the construction of 381 extra units in Givat Zeev [near the annexed East Jerusalem],” Israeli settlement watchdog Peace Now told AFP.

This is the third such announcement by the Israeli government since the beginning of the year.

On January 6, it unveiled plans for 272 new homes in various West Bank settlements. The move was followed by the announcement of another 1,877 new units on January 10.

“This is the third time since the last phase of Palestinian prisoner releases that the government has approved plans for new houses,” Peace Now spokesman Lior Amihai said.

Israel and the Palestinians embarked on nine months of direct negotiations in late July at the urging of U.S. Secratary of state John Kerry.

But over the past six months, Israel has not slowed its construction on land the Palestinians want for a future state. 

“Netanyahu’s government does not want peace,” Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erakat told AFP.

Last week, four key European states summoned Israeli ambassadors over the January 10 settlement announcement, drawing a strong reaction from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The prime minister accused the EU of “hypocrisy” for choosing to condemn Israeli settlement construction, and not Palestinian incitement.